SWR: Chapter 1190/1192

Chapter 1190: Leeds United’s Promotion Route

In most cases, club managers, fans, coaches, and the media all view issues from different perspectives.

For instance, if a local star like Harry Kane is a product of the club's youth academy, many believe the team should do everything possible to keep him.

But things are not that simple.

Fans familiar with the near-soap-opera situation of Gerrard almost moving from Liverpool to Chelsea will remember that he sacrificed personal gain to stay loyal to Liverpool.

There are also players like Totti and De Rossi, who spent their entire careers in Rome, giving up higher financial returns elsewhere.

This is admirable, of course, but in a professional league, no one should criticize players for making different choices.

Everyone deserves the right to decide for themselves.

In recent years, Leeds United has faced the same dilemma that Liverpool and Roma once did.

Just like Kante now.

Kante has been with Leeds United for many years, and he truly regards the club as his home.

Since 2015, top teams such as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United have tried to sign him every summer.

At first, Leeds United raised Kante's salary, giving him the club's highest wage of £100,000 per week.

But it stopped increasing after that.

The club tried to boost his income through commercial promotions, but it didn't work.

Kante faced challenges yet still chose to stay.

However, this year, the situation is clearly different.

L'Equipe reported that Paris Saint-Germain is determined to sign Kante. Martin Samuel, a well-known journalist closely associated with Chelsea, revealed in his column that Chelsea is ready to offer Kante a contract worth up to £300,000 per week.

Leeds United is prepared to break its current wage structure, but the highest it can offer is £150,000 a week. If Chelsea truly offers £300,000, there is no way Leeds United can match it.

Even £200,000 would be impossible.

The same situation applies to Harry Kane, Van Dijk, and others.

Dele Alli's agent has been in disputes with the club for over half a year, constantly demanding a transfer because they cannot agree on a new salary.

At Alli's age, Leeds United is only willing to pay him £100,000 a week, while his agent is asking for more.

Obviously, there are wealthy clubs willing to offer him higher wages.

Many fans, as a result, believe the club is too stingy.

Of course, this is mostly directed at management. The fans still love Leeds United, but their complaints show their hopes. They want the club to pay higher wages to keep their favorite players.

On this issue, Fernando Lucas has stated many times before: "I can't do it."

Many people may wonder, didn't Leeds United report revenue of over £500 million, ranking fifth or sixth in Europe? So why can't they afford it?

The current top salary in the Premier League is £300,000 a week, while Leeds United's players get £100,000. Is that fair?

Yes, it's true that Leeds United's players are underpaid compared to others.

This has led to the squad being relatively young. After two or three years of development, players are often poached by top teams offering huge pay rises.

Take Salah for example. If he can move to Liverpool and double his wages, wouldn't that be a smart decision?

But the question is, how long can Liverpool sustain its current model?

Liverpool's top weekly wage is £250,000, with an annual wage bill of £260 million. Salaries account for 58% of the club's revenue. Does that seem reasonable?

Now let's look at Everton.

Their annual wage bill accounts for 85% of revenue, which is extremely unhealthy.

Why is it so high?

The reason is simple. Once the wage structure rises, it's almost impossible to lower it again.

Even selling the highest-paid players doesn't help because overall wages keep climbing unless the structure is completely torn down and rebuilt.

Everton's problem began when the club performed well a few years ago and became overly ambitious. After Moyes left for Manchester United, Everton loosened its wage controls to remain competitive. But results declined sharply in recent years.

Revenue fell, yet salaries remained high.

Now Everton finds itself in an awkward position.

Although Premier League broadcasting income has skyrocketed, much of that money goes straight into players' pockets.

The same goes for Burnley, a newly promoted team this season. Their wages account for 85% of revenue. Unlike Everton, they're doing it intentionally to strengthen the squad and stay in the Premier League.

Burnley has performed well this season, but what about next year? And the year after that?

The Premier League environment has become distorted. Without higher wages, clubs can't attract or retain top players. Without top players, competitiveness drops, relegation risks rise, and with relegation comes an income collapse that can even lead to bankruptcy.

Once you understand this system, it's easy to see why Leeds United refuses to follow that path.

It's a dead end and completely unsustainable.

In the Premier League, only two clubs control their wage-to-revenue ratio around 40%: Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Unlike in Gao Shen's previous life, the current Tottenham are only a mid-upper table team, far from the traditional "Big Six." But their financial efficiency is outstanding.

In Gao Shen's previous life, Tottenham's decline began the moment they broke their wage structure. In the summer of 2019, they spent heavily to sign Ndombele and made him the highest-paid player at £200,000 per week.

It's no coincidence that Ndombele failed to perform and Tottenham's results deteriorated soon after.

A similar example was Manchester United's signing of Alexis Sanchez on £500,000 a week. It became one of their worst transfers and caused chaos in the dressing room.

Such cases are common across European football.

Therefore, Leeds United has no choice. They cannot compete financially with the rich clubs because once wages increase, it may seem fine at first, but if performance declines, a crisis will quickly emerge.

For example, if Leeds United fails to qualify for the Champions League, revenue drops by £100 million instantly.

While wages remain unchanged, the ratio skyrockets, and financial pressure mounts immediately.

Over the years, Leeds United has developed its own set of rules. They never follow the path of other clubs. Instead, they prioritize cost efficiency, keeping players if possible, and selling them if not.

The club has maintained excellent relations with its players. Departures are handled amicably, and there have been few major conflicts.

The Premier League's competition level is extremely high now. Even with strong players, Leeds United cannot guarantee a top-four finish next season. That uncertainty is also what makes the league so appealing to fans worldwide.

The suspense is always intense.

Pochettino's Leeds United, Guardiola's Manchester City, Mourinho's Manchester United, Sarri's Chelsea, Klopp's Liverpool, and Arsenal—whose next coach remains unknown after Wenger's departure—are all battling for four Champions League spots.

It is truly the most competitive league in the world.

For Leeds United, the biggest challenge is finding a way to progress while surrounded by wealthy rivals, all while maintaining financial stability as more investors flood into the league.

Gao Shen, Su Qing, and Lucas set out Leeds United's "promotion" plan long ago: to increase revenue step by step.

As income rises, the wage structure will gradually follow, maintaining sustainable growth.

"With our current revenue, I think we can definitely raise the team's maximum salary to £150,000 per week," said Leeds United's Chinese CFO, Jiang Lijuan. "As for the number of players, it's best to limit it to five."

She believed this was the safest approach for Leeds United's financial health.

She had already flown to Spain to consult Su Qing and obtained his approval.

Lucas and Borrell exchanged helpless looks.

"If that's the case, it will be difficult to keep everyone, and Mbappé might have to leave," Lucas said.

Mbappé was not yet earning the top salary, but renewal talks were ongoing.

"Let's see what happens. If it doesn't work out, there's nothing we can do," Gao Shen replied.

As a coach, he naturally wanted to keep every player, especially since the squad had been molded perfectly.

But from the club's standpoint, financial safety is the top priority.

Since Gao Shen had made his decision, the matter was settled.

"By the way, Vinicius is about to turn 18, right?" Gao Shen asked.

"Yes, July 12th," Borrell replied.

"And Rodrigo?"

"Not until January 9th, 2019."

"These two are exceptional talents. We must bring them in as soon as possible and train them properly," Gao Shen instructed.

Leeds United had signed both players early for relatively low fees. They had been developing in Brazil ever since. The club paid a combined £10 million to Flamengo and Santos.

To put that into perspective, when Leeds United signed Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid's academy, it only cost €5 million. So this was a substantial investment.

Due to FIFA and Brazilian regulations, players can only move abroad after turning 18. Vinicius would arrive first, followed by Rodrigo, meaning Leeds United could immediately apply for Vinicius' work permit.

Although Premier League work permit rules have tightened in recent years, players from strong football regions like South America can usually qualify through the "special talent" clause, which acts as a flexible exemption.

"Understood. Leave that to me," Borrell agreed.

The world of football is full of young talent. Despite constantly selling players, Leeds United continues to discover and nurture new stars. That's how the club has positioned itself in recent years.

Some even call Leeds United a star-making factory.

But Gao Shen, Su Qing, Lucas, Borrell, and the others are steadily helping the club evolve, aiming to join the ranks of Europe's top clubs as soon as possible.

Before that, however, Gao Shen needed to have a word with Pochettino.

As his opponent in the Champions League final, Pochettino knew all too well the challenges Leeds United faced.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1191: In the New Season, We Will Conquer the Champions League

Since returning to Cheshire, Gao Shen had been occupied with endless social gatherings.

First, he had dinner with Ferguson, then met with Mubarak and Guardiola from Manchester City, followed by Klopp, Sarri, and others. Even Wenger, who had just been dismissed from Arsenal, made a special trip north to visit.

During the meal, Gao Shen joked with Wenger, suggesting he join Leeds United to take charge of the youth academy, which almost earned him a beating from the Frenchman.

Throughout the evening, Ferguson was full of praise for the remarkable Leeds United.

He probably never expected that the nearly bankrupt Championship side Gao Shen had purchased years ago would transform into a Premier League powerhouse capable of winning the league title. It was an astonishing achievement.

The most frustrated team, however, was Manchester City.

Historically and in recent years, the relationship between Manchester City and Leeds United had been quite close. The two clubs even cooperated on several occasions. Manchester City had signed players from Leeds United, and Leeds had also poached young talents from City's academy.

At first, Manchester City did not resist. Their objective was never to develop their own youth players but to dominate the Champions League and establish themselves as one of Europe's elite.

But gradually, problems began to surface.

Take Sterling as an example. When this local academy product joined Leeds United, the transfer fee was relatively low. But when Manchester City later tried to buy him back, they discovered his value had soared to €70 million. The price gap was staggering.

The price difference itself was not the issue—after all, Manchester City's model did not focus on player development.

The real problem was that Leeds United had become Manchester City's top rival for the Premier League title last season, which was simply unacceptable.

In the past, City treated Leeds like an older brother looking after a younger one, knowing they posed no threat. But now, not only were they a threat, they were the biggest one. It was hard to believe.

From that moment, the relationship between the two clubs became complicated.

When Gao Shen dined with Mubarak and the others, the conversations remained personal, never touching on club business. And when meeting Guardiola, they only discussed football.

After several such dinners, a few days quickly passed.

…

After the Champions League final, Pochettino took some time off to recover and reflect.

When he returned to England, before reporting to the club, he first visited Gao Shen in Cheshire.

The two men sat in Gao Shen's courtyard, discussing Leeds United.

"From the Champions League final, your biggest problem was the midfield. Before Bernardo Silva came on, there was no real threat. Only Dele Alli's few dribbles created some danger. Apart from that, the midfield was ineffective, which is a serious issue."

Gao Shen directly pointed out Leeds United's biggest mistake in the Champions League final.

Judging from the match, Leeds United had overwhelming control of the ball and the tempo.

It was unacceptable that they failed to win despite such dominance.

That could only mean there were problems with both the lineup and tactics.

Pochettino agreed with Gao Shen's assessment.

He said that during his break, he had repeatedly rewatched and analyzed the final, coming to the same conclusion—it was a problem of midfield passing and transition.

"Fabinho dropped deep, with Dele Alli and Kante pushing up. I was hesitant at first, but I thought it was most important to suppress Real Madrid's midfield and attack. But your defense at that time was really…"

Pochettino paused, realizing he had underestimated Real Madrid's defensive resilience.

"You didn't underestimate our defense, you overestimated your attack," Gao Shen replied sharply.

Leeds United had played spectacular attacking football throughout the Champions League campaign. Almost every game had been explosive and beautiful, their offense devastating.

Harry Kane, Mbappé, and Mané had scored a combined 12 goals. That kind of record was almost unheard of in the Champions League.

This success had made Pochettino and his coaching staff overly optimistic about their attack.

When the final began, they were shocked by the intensity of the match and quickly realized their problems in possession, but by then, it was too late.

Leeds United was now overflowing with talent.

Up front, they had Harry Kane, Vardy, Mbappé, Dembélé, Grealish, Rashford, Portuguese prodigy Félix, and local stars Sancho and Foden.

In midfield, there were Fabinho, Kimmich, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Milinkovic-Savic, Kalvin Phillips, Valverde, Dele Alli, and Kante.

Youngsters like Declan Rice and Tchouaméni were also emerging.

The defense was equally impressive.

They had Van Dijk, Militão, De Ligt, Ruben Dias, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Achraf Hakimi, José Fonte, Cucurella, Reece James, and Alphonso Davies.

As for goalkeepers, after Ederson was sold during the winter break, Alisson had firmly established himself as the team's first choice.

From the perspective of a transmigrator, Gao Shen could see that Leeds United's lineup was absolutely star-studded. In two or three years, it could be described as world-class.

But for now, the players were still young, mostly around 20 years old, with some as young as 17 or 18.

The most interesting figure among them was veteran José Fonte, already 35.

In recent years, Leeds United had signed top central defenders almost every season and sold them for high prices. The key behind this success was Fonte's mentoring role.

Whether in training or matches, Fonte helped his teammates grow significantly. Because of this, Leeds United renewed his contract until he was 40, effectively making him a lifetime player for the club.

The best part was that his weekly wage remained modest.

…

"I heard Harry Kane might be leaving?" Pochettino asked with concern.

Gao Shen nodded. It was indeed possible.

The English striker's wage demands were too high for Leeds United, even with an increased salary cap.

Some players simply couldn't be retained. That was the harsh reality.

"I was thinking," Pochettino said, "if that happens, could we use Milinkovic-Savic as the attacking pivot next season? Like how Moyes used Fellaini at Everton?"

Gao Shen immediately laughed. "You and I are thinking the same thing."

Looking at the current squad, if Leeds United didn't bring in another top striker, Milinkovic-Savic as a pivot would be the best solution.

Haaland wasn't yet 18, so it would be unrealistic to rely on him immediately. He still needed time to mature.

Vardy wasn't a traditional center forward, and relying on him alone for an entire season would be difficult. Using Milinkovic-Savic as a focal point was clearly a strong tactical option.

Of course, Pochettino didn't mean using him as a pure striker, but rather as a central attacking reference point.

"His technique is more refined than Fellaini's, his dribbling is stronger, his physicality and aerial ability are on par, but his defensive ability isn't as strong," Gao Shen analyzed.

After years of coaching, Gao Shen knew Fellaini's traits well.

Milinkovic-Savic had better technique and passing. He was calm under pressure and rarely lost the ball in one-on-one situations, making him an ideal pivot in midfield.

All that remained was to build the attack around him.

If Harry Kane left, Milinkovic-Savic could be Leeds United's offensive core. If Kane stayed, then he would still serve as a solid plan B.

"This is a smart, intelligent player," Gao Shen continued, "but you must be careful about one thing."

Pochettino nodded seriously, paying full attention.

"When Fellaini played at Manchester United, his biggest problem was unclear positioning. He wanted to do everything but ended up doing nothing well. With his size, he couldn't play a full box-to-box role either. It was unrealistic."

Pochettino fell into deep thought.

It was a subtle yet crucial tactical point, often overlooked.

For a player over 1.9 meters tall, covering the entire pitch was nearly impossible.

Still, some managers continued to demand it.

It was always difficult to use midfielders like Fellaini, Pogba, or Yaya Touré effectively.

As mentioned earlier, Tottenham's record signing Ndombele had similar problems, both tactically and with dressing-room conflicts.

"You're much more familiar with Milinkovic-Savic," Gao Shen said. "Think carefully about creating a tactical system that suits him. Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes are both outstanding, but in battles between top teams, relying on them alone won't be enough."

"Also, remember that after Leeds United's success this season, more teams will treat you as a major opponent. How to maximize the strengths of Mbappé, Dembélé, Mané, and Vardy will be crucial."

These players all shared similar traits—pace and explosiveness.

But they all needed space to thrive.

The Premier League was perfect for such styles, but Leeds United couldn't rely on this tactic alone. That's why having a plan B with Milinkovic-Savic, or a pure striker like Kane, was essential.

If Kane departed, Haaland would be next in line, though he was still too young.

"Honestly, Mauricio," Gao Shen said, "it's easy for Leeds United to achieve results now. As revenue grows, our overall strength and player retention will only improve."

"Believe me, this team has massive potential. In the new season, you can challenge for the Premier League again, or even… the Champions League."

As Gao Shen spoke, he stared into Pochettino's eyes.

He noticed a faint gleam flash across them when he mentioned the Champions League.

"I'll stay in Cheshire to back you next season," Gao Shen added. "You and your team must give your all. Whatever you won last season, win it again. Whatever you didn't win, conquer it this time."

Pochettino suddenly felt an uncontrollable surge of determination.

For any manager, the Premier League and Champions League are the ultimate temptations.

What made it even more exciting was that the next season's Champions League final would be held at Leeds United's Amazon Stadium.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1192: The Multiplier Effect of Football Tactics

"Are you really optimistic that the team can continue to compete for the Champions League next season?"

After chatting for several hours, Su Qing came out only after Pochettino had left.

She wasn't eavesdropping, but she had overheard a few words as she passed by.

Besides, there were no secrets between her and Gao Shen, so why bother hiding?

If she wanted to listen, she would just listen openly.

"Don't you have confidence?" Gao Shen asked with a smile instead of answering.

Su Qing shook her head. "It's hard to say. Many people think last season's success was a surprise. We reached the final, but we didn't win the Champions League. That was disappointing. And this summer, we'll definitely have to sell a few more players."

"You know," Gao Shen began, "I've discussed this with people like Sacchi, Valdano, and Ferguson. Many coaches build teams as if assembling a puzzle."

Su Qing frowned slightly. "What's wrong with that?"

"That kind of approach turns into managing player characteristics, doesn't it?" Gao Shen countered.

Su Qing still looked puzzled.

"For example, if we sell Kante, we'd look to sign another ball-winner like him to fill the gap, right?"

Su Qing nodded. That was the usual logic. Almost every club thought that way.

"But here's the problem," Gao Shen continued. "Where can you find another Kante in this world?"

Su Qing paused, not sure how to answer.

"More importantly," Gao Shen explained, "building a team like a puzzle is very inefficient. You end up with a collection of talented players who don't necessarily fit together. Take Kante for example—he's a very special player."

Hearing this, Su Qing suddenly understood why Gao Shen said Leeds United's midfield wasn't great at ball distribution.

If she thought about it carefully, as long as Kante was there, Leeds United's passing issue in midfield would always exist. Even if Kimmich played as a defensive midfielder and Bernardo Silva or Bruno Fernandes played alongside him, the problem would remain.

According to the "barrel theory," Kante's shortcoming was simply too short.

This shortcoming wasn't about poor passing. On the contrary, under Leeds United's system, Kante's passing accuracy was excellent. The issue was that he made few dangerous or creative passes, mostly choosing safe transitions.

Of course, his strengths were tremendous.

That was why Leeds United had relied on him for years.

But things were different now.

First, Kante was difficult to keep. Second, Leeds United's identity had changed.

They were no longer just a strong team.

They were champions.

Premier League champions and Champions League runners-up.

In the past, when Premier League clubs faced Leeds United, they wanted to fight. Now, they would defend first.

This was exactly what Gao Shen had told Pochettino: in the new season, Leeds United's attacking power would determine how far they could go.

"Modern football tactics are about amplifying players' abilities and achieving a multiplier effect," Gao Shen said.

Su Qing, quick to catch on, immediately grasped the core of his point. "So what you're saying is that football today focuses more on collective performance than individual brilliance?"

"Exactly!" Gao Shen praised her. "If one plus one can be greater than two, then what about one plus one plus one? What if it's eleven players? How big would that effect be?"

"The integrated power of this multiplier effect far surpasses the brilliance of any individual. Even players like Ronaldo or Messi are no exception. They still need to fit into the team's overall framework."

"That's why, in the Champions League, especially in tactically sophisticated matches, you sometimes see huge scorelines between strong teams. It's not because of the difference in individual ability, but because of the disparity in the multiplier effect created by tactics."

The gap was not in overall strength but in performance on the pitch.

Last season, Real Madrid had looked uncomfortable because they disrupted their own multiplier effect at the tactical level, which backfired.

Now, Su Qing fully understood what Gao Shen meant.

"So this is the secret behind your coaching success all these years?" she asked playfully.

Gao Shen grinned. "What, are you planning to steal the Exorcism Sword Manual and defeat Dugu Qiubai?"

Su Qing rolled her eyes. "What Sword Manual? You're the one practicing Exorcism... Ugh, forget it!"

"It's a theory," Gao Shen said with a laugh, "and it sounds simple, but it's hard to apply in practice."

"It's like studying. For top students, the same problem looks simple—'you do this, this, and that, and it's done.' But for weaker students, it's completely confusing."

"I remember when Ronaldo first joined Real Madrid, I asked him to train with Benzema. Ronaldo told him that one-on-one scoring wasn't difficult. 'Just deceive the goalkeeper and score.' Do you know what Benzema said?"

"What?" Su Qing asked, smiling sweetly.

"'Buddy, you're Ronaldo!'" Gao Shen burst out laughing.

That joke became a classic inside Real Madrid's dressing room and was often used to tease Benzema.

Su Qing laughed too.

That's exactly it.

The theory might be sound, but the people applying it make all the difference.

For no particular reason, Gao Shen suddenly sighed deeply.

He thought of Real Madrid and his old players.

Only now did he truly understand why Ferguson delayed his retirement again and again, and why so many players refused to quit even when they could no longer perform at the top level.

After all, it's never easy to let go.

…

2018 was the year of the World Cup.

FIFA President Infantino had personally invited Gao Shen to Russia to attend the opening match and the final, and Gao Shen gladly accepted. He hadn't yet been to Russia.

So after discussing it with Su Qing, they decided to travel there for the World Cup, combining business with leisure.

After so many years of coaching in Europe, this was the first time he truly felt free enough to enjoy the tournament.

But before heading to Russia, Gao Shen had to return to China to handle some matters.

After staying in Cheshire for a while, Gao Shen and his family returned home, taking their child to visit his grandparents.

Their family's wine company had now become a major enterprise in China, holding agency rights for several top international brands and well-known domestic wineries.

But most operations were now handled by professional managers, while Gao Shen and Su Qing simply oversaw things casually.

Sanchez and Vidal's vineyard and farm businesses in Chile were also flourishing. After tasting success, they expanded further, supplying exclusively to the Chinese market and earning a fortune.

Vargas from Peru had also built a thriving farm. After retiring, he devoted himself fully to business, partnering with several high-tech companies.

Over the years, Gao Shen had invested in many ventures with players. Some made money, some didn't, but the sums were small, and he never cared much about the losses.

With his current wealth, such things barely mattered.

Things were different now.

In recent years, Gao Shen's hometown had undergone a major urban renewal project. Among them, the redevelopment of Yangguangli was led by the government, with Gao Jianguo, Su Zhijun, and the residents jointly funding the project.

Every family now lived in a single-family villa, roughly the same size as before, with small courtyards in front. The remaining land was used to build malls, hotels, residential buildings, and nursing homes.

The shopping centers and hotels were operated by leading domestic companies. The commercial housing, initially planned for both residents and outside buyers, sold out instantly within the community.

Profits from the housing supported the community renovation, while rental income from malls and hotels funded the neighborhood committee and nursing home operations. Each household also received annual dividends based on their registration.

After several years, Yangguangli had become one of the most desirable areas in the city center.

All of this began with the initiative of Gao Jianguo and Su Zhijun.

So when Gao Shen and Su Qing returned, they were warmly welcomed by everyone in the community.

Over the years, they had always been a source of pride for the neighborhood. Both families had contributed greatly to the community, and everyone was grateful.

Back in his hometown, Gao Shen finally understood the saying, "If you don't return home in glory, it's like wearing fine clothes in the dark."

The neighbors' praise was one thing, but visitors also came from the district, the city, and even the province. The local leaders personally met with him.

He had his parents to thank for that, as their community work had earned them deep respect.

It made Gao Shen realize that his and Su Qing's roots would always be here.

"When you have time, we must come back often," Gao Shen told her.

During their stay, they visited their old schools—kindergarten, primary, and secondary. Everything had changed so much. Although Gao Jianguo and Su Zhijun donated every year, Gao Shen and Su Qing still made generous contributions in their own names, earning honorary school director titles.

After spending about ten days at home, Gao Shen and Su Qing said goodbye to their parents as the World Cup approached.

It was an emotional farewell.

Both Gao Shen and Su Qing were nearly 38, and their parents were in their sixties. At this age, they didn't want to cause any more worry.

In the past, their parents talked about visiting abroad and even encouraged them to have another child, but not anymore.

They preferred to live comfortably in their familiar community, surrounded by lifelong neighbors and friends.

What reassured Gao Shen most was that the old neighborhood of Yangguangli remained close-knit. Everyone still looked out for each other, and all four parents were healthy, so he and Su Qing could leave without concern.

After saying a reluctant goodbye, Gao Shen and his family boarded a plane, first stopping in the capital for two days before flying to Russia.

Gao Shen was curious to see whether this World Cup would unfold the same way as in his previous life.

(To be continued.)